Apparatus for supporting cooling device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus ( 1 ) for supporting a cooling device ( 30 ) thereon includes a bracket ( 10 ) and a saddle ( 20 ) carrying the cooling device ( 30 ) thereon. The bracket ( 10 ) defines two opposing rails ( 12 ), ( 13 ) and a washboard-like member ( 14 ) extending along a direction in which the rails ( 12 ), ( 13 ) extend. The saddle ( 20 ) includes a positioning member ( 26 ) engaged in the washboard-like member ( 14 ) to position the saddle ( 20 ) to the bracket ( 10 ) and two blocks ( 24 ) slidable on the rails ( 12 ), ( 13 ) of the bracket ( 10 ) under condition that the positioning member ( 26 ) is disengaged from the washboard-like member ( 14 ).

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjustably supportinga cooling device, and particularly to an apparatus which can slidablymount a cooling device at a specified position.

2. Prior Art

As computer technology continues to advance, electronic components suchas central processing units (CPUs) of computers are being made toprovide faster operational speeds and greater functional capabilities.When a CPU operates at high speed in a computer enclosure, itstemperature can increase greatly. It is desirable to dissipate the heatquickly, for example by using a heat dissipation device attached to theCPU in the enclosure. This allows the CPU and other electroniccomponents in the enclosure to function within their normal operatingtemperature ranges, thereby assuring the quality of data management,storage and transfer.

A conventional heat dissipation device comprises a heat sink and a fan.The fan is mounted on a heat sink by screws engaging with threadsdefined in fins of the heat sink. Although the device can steadily mountthe fan to the heat sink, it is still complex to operate by screws. Onceinstalling the fan on the heat sink, it is difficult to make the fandisengage from the heat sink.

Oftentimes, a computer comprises a plurality of electronic componentsinstalled therein. The electronic components are generally arranged inline array and only narrow space is available between adjacent twoelectronic components. A plurality of heat sinks is attached on theelectronic components for dissipating heat from the electroniccomponents. Accordingly, a plurality of fans is installed in thecomputer enclosure for improving air convection within the enclosure.The fans are generally mounted to the computer one by one. However, thecomputer provides a small available space for installing each fan. Thus,it is difficult and inconvenient to mount the fans in right place.

Moreover, a computer enclosure usually contains several different typesof mother boards, and more than one fan is need. Usually, the fan ismounted to correspond to a predetermined mother board and can not bemoved again. Thus, if the mother board is changed, another fan must bedesigned and manufactured again to adapt the new mother board. It isinevitable to lead to cost waste. It is necessary to provide anapparatus which can adjustably carrying a fan to a computer to satisfyheat dissipation in different places.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is needed is an apparatus for adjustably locating a cooling devicein right place whereby the cooling device can be directed toward acooled component, such as CPU or a mother board.

An apparatus for adjustably supporting a cooling device in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a bracketand a saddle carrying the cooling device thereon. The bracket definestwo opposing rails and a washboard-like member extending along adirection in which the rails extend. The saddle comprises a positioningmember engaged in the washboard-like member to position the saddle tothe bracket and two blocks slidable on the rails of the bracket undercondition that the positioning member is disengaged from thewashboard-like member.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an apparatus in accordance withof a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and a cooling devicecapable of being adjustably mounted onto the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view of a saddle of the apparatus of FIG.1, but inverted;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an indicated portion V of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a bracket 10, and arectangular saddle 20. A cooling device, such as a fan 30 may beadjustably mounted on the apparatus 1.

The bracket 10 comprises a first rail 12, a second rail 13, a pluralityof jags 14 and four hooks 16 opposing to the first rail 12, the secondrail 13. The first rail 12 and the second rail 13 are formed alongopposite longitudinal sides of the bracket 10. The first rail 12 definesa first slot 122. The second rail 13 defines a second slot 133. Thesecond rail 13 is shorter than the first rail 12. The jags 14 arearranged like a washboard and adjacent to an end of the second rail 13.The hooks 16 are formed at corners of the bracket 10, for fastening thebracket 10 to a place, such as a computer enclosure, a mother board or aheat sink.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the saddle 20 comprises a first surface and asecond surface. Three blocks 24 and a positioning member 26 are formedon the second surface of the saddle 20. Two pairs of posts 22 havinghooks thereon are formed on the first surface of the saddle 20. Thesaddle 20 defines a central opening 28 therein. The blocks 24 and thepositioning member 26 are positioned respectively at four corners of thebottom surface of the saddle 20. The positioning member 26 comprises twohollow supports 260, 261, a shaft 262 extendable through the supports260, 261, a handle 264 and a torsion spring 266 enlaced on a middleportion of the shaft 262. The torsion spring 266 extends through thesupports 260, 261 and resists the support 261, the handle 264. Thehandle 264 comprises a first lug 2640, a second lug 2642 opposing to thefirst lug 2640. The blocks 24 and the supports 260 are in the sameheight to keep balance. The shaft 262 has a curve-part 2620 at one endthereof. A bulge 2644 with a nick 2646 is formed between the first lug2640 and the second lug 2642.

In assembly, referring to FIGS. 1-5, the posts 22 of the saddle 20respectively extend through four holes 32 defined at corners of the fan30. The hooks 220 of the posts 22 clip around of the holes 32. Thesaddle 20 carrying the fan 30 is then laid on the bracket 10. The blocks24 are received into and slide in the first slot 122 of the first rail12 and the second slot 133 of the second rail 13. The saddle 20 is movedon the bracket 10 until the fan 30 carried on the saddle 20 is locatedin a proper position. Referring to FIG. 5, the mounting component 26 isheld on the bracket 10. The first lug 2640 is clipped in one jag 14 andthe second lug 2642 is above the jags 14. When the position of thesaddle 20 corresponding to a cooled component on the motherboard ischanged, a force exerted on the second lug 2642 and the second lug 2642is thus lightly moved down. The first lug 2640 moves upward and isdivorced from the jag 14. The blocks 24 may slide in the first andsecond slot 122, 133 again. The second lug 2642 is forced until thesaddle 20 carrying the fan 30 moved to a position where the fan 30directs to the component (not shown) needed to be cooled. The second lug2642 is released, and the first lug 2640 is blocked in another jag 14under the control of the torsion spring 266. The saddle 20 is mounted onthe bracket 10 firmly, having the fan 30 directing to the component.

In other embodiments the blocks 24 may be other shapes, such as a hollowhemispheroid, sphere or cube, so long as the blocks 24 can slide in thefirst, and second slots 122, 133. It is feasible that more than onesaddle 20 may be positioned on the bracket 10 for carrying more fans 30to satisfy heat dissipation requirement in different places of acomputer system. Moreover, more than one positioning member 26 may bemounted on adjacent corners of the saddle 20 to engage with the bracket10. It is feasible that a spring slip is instead of the torsion spring266.

It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other formswithout departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examplesand embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative andnot restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the detailsgiven herein.

1. An apparatus for supporting a cooling device thereon, the apparatuscomprising: a bracket defining two opposing rails and a washboard-likemember extending along a direction in which the rails extend; and asaddle carrying the cooling device thereon, the saddle comprising apositioning member engaged in the washboard-like member to position thesaddle to the bracket and two blocks slidable on the rails of thebracket under condition that the positioning member is disengaged fromthe washboard-like member.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein said positioning member comprises a spring enlaced thereon and ahandle, and the handle is blocked in the washboard-like member under thecontrol of the spring.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereinsaid handle comprises a first lug clipped in the washboard-like memberand a second lug opposing to the first lug.
 4. The apparatus as claimedin claim 2, wherein the handle is divorced from the washboard-likemember by exerting a force on the handle.
 5. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said bracket further comprises hooks for mounting thebracket thereof.
 6. An apparatus for supporting a cooling devicethereon, the apparatus comprising: a bracket defining a plurality ofjags; and a saddle carrying the cooling device thereon and having atorsional member secured thereon, the torsional member comprising atorsion spring, a shaft extending in the torsion spring, a handle at anend of the shaft, the handle being selectively engagable with the jagsto secure the saddle to the bracket and being disengagable with the jagsby exerting a force thereon whereby the saddle can be slidable on thebracket from one position to another position, the torsion springresisting the handle from being disengagable from the jags.
 7. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bracket further comprisestwo rails formed along opposing sides of the bracket.
 8. The apparatusas claimed in claim 7, wherein the jags are defined extending along adirection in which the rails extend.
 9. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 6, wherein said handle comprises a first lug clipped in the jagsunder the control of the torsion spring and a second lug opposing to thefirst lug.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the firstlug is divorced from the jags by exerting a force on the second lug. 11.The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the saddle furthercomprises two blocks slidable on the rails of the bracket.
 12. Anapparatus for supporting a cooling device thereon, comprising: abracket; and a saddle carrying the cooling device thereon and engagablewith the bracket so as to be slidable along the bracket, the saddlecomprising a handle resiliently engagable with the bracket whereby thesaddle is capable of being positioned relative to the bracket, andresiliently disengagable from the bracket whereby the saddle is slidablealong the bracket.
 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein thebracket defines two opposing rails.
 14. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of jags extendingalong a direction in which the rails extend and engagable with thehandle.
 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the handlecomprises a first lug to engage with the bracket and a second lugcapable of being applied by forces to control engagement of the firstlug.
 16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the saddlecomprises two blocks slidable on the rails of the bracket respectively.